Floor drying apparatus containing baffle structure for separation of entrained liquid



W. J. BELKNAP April 21, 1953 2,635,278 CONTAINING BAFFLE STRUCTUR FOR SEPARATION OF ENTRAINED LIQUID FLOOR DRYING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ApriI 21, 1953 w. J. BELKNAP 2,635,278

FLOOR DRYING APPARATUS CONTAINING BAFFLE STRUCTURE FOR SEPARATION OF ENTRAINED LIQUID Filed Aug. 18, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/FTOUT I 32 4100/0 sum rmvx l 1$; 82 uni-F15 60/0 103 a4 50 m ma April 21, 1953 w. J. BELKNAP 2,635,278

FLOOR DRYING APPARATUS CONTAINING BAFFLE STRUCTURE FOR SEPARATION OF ENTRAINED LIQUID 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 18, 1951 Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE "FLoon DRYING APPARATUS'ICONTAINING BAFFLE STRUCTURE FOR-SEPARATION F sN'raAINED LIQUID u u r a William J. Belknap, Framingham,Mass. V Application August 18, 195i, seriai voiziaisv This invention relates generally to floor cleaning equipment, and particularly to improvements in floor scrubbing and/or drying devices of the general type, described in my copending application Serial No. 8,533, filed February 16, 1948, of which this application is a continuationdn-part.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a compact device adapted to be handled rangedthat when the floor drying means is being operated, the suction meanscan be put into operation and the liquid collected by the floor drying means can be sucked up off the floor and deposited in the housing.

i A still further important feature of this 'invention isthe arrangement of the conduit means between the suction means andthe intake port in the housing in a manner suchthat' the liquid cleaner on the floor surface is not only sucked into the housing during the drying operation with the application of a minimum pressure differential, but in addition, liquid is prevented from being carried. by the air'stream intofthe suction means even in caseswhere the suction iorceis relatively great. In accordance with this invention, this carry-over of ,liquid into the suction means is prevented by special arrangements and configurations of the above-mentioned conduit means, including. in particular -a tortuous or serpentine passageway into which the intake airstream discharges, of such crosssectional area and configuration that liquid is flung or forced out of theairstream by abrupt changes in directionand/or rate of flow in traversing the passageway settling space or spaces of. relatively large cross-sectional area between the intake portand the suction means topro -mote settling out from the airstream ofdroplets of liquid; bafiie or like means for preventing slopping and turbulence of the body of. liquid :collected. in the bottom of the housing, thus preventing particles of said body of liquid from, being picked up by the airstream; and, if desired, means for shielding the opening leading .to the suctionmeans against-creeping.of liquid along the interior walls of the housing and thence into saidopening.

i 3 Claims. (01. 15 -353) Still another advantageous feature of this invention is the provision of means for collecting the liquid cleanerai; the intake port adjacent thefloor-drying means durin the dryingoperation by a squeegee secured "to the housing in a position such that it actually forms the inner (i. e. rear) side of the intake port. The design is suchthat all of the'liquidcleaner collected 'bythe' squeegee is directly subjected to the action of the suction and isquickly sucked into the housing. i

The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the scrubbing device of this invention; H i i Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken generally along the central lengthwise axis "with parts omitted, and with the floorscrubbing brush in operatingposition, the brush assembly being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is an nlarged vertical sectional view of'the frontpart of the device as shown in Fig. 2 but with thebrush retracted and the floordryingsqueegee in operating position, the brush assembly being shown in elevation;

I Fig. 4 isa plan view of-one side of the device; Fig. 5 is a perspective view' of the baflle grid structure; i i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the device with theliquid-carrying tanks removed;

Figf'l is a sectionalview along the line 'I'| of Fig. 3 showing details of the air and liquid Fig. s is' an'enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the device through the tanks taken along theline 88 of Fig. 2; and. l Fig. ;9 is anenlarged view'partly in section of thet'readle stop-arrangement IOOkiIlg toward the front of thedevice. a

The "apparatus shown in the drawings may conveniently consistof three main units or assemblies, fviz. the-washerchassis ID as shown in Fig. 6, the lift-out waste tank assembly reprejsented by the numeral" l2, and the liquidsupply tank assembly represented by the numeral 14. The waste tank assembly I2 fits down into chassis i0, and supply tank assembly l4 fits onto the ,top of waste tank assembly I 2. Each of these -.three. assemblies will now, bedescribed in detail. Chassisassemb1y l0 comprises front frame member 20 and rear frame member '22, rigidly connected .by..tubu1ar shaft 24. R ar frame .,member, 22 is supported upon two swivel casters 26, and to it is attached a yoked handle 21 having arms 28, 30. This handle is so pivoted in conventional manner that on lowering it sufficiently, the front part of the entire assembly may be raised from the floor and the device may be wheeled around on the swivel casters 26. Suction blower 32 and motor '34 which drives the blower are pivotally mounted by means or pins 35 in the forked handle. Flexible hose 36 provides communication between the blower 32 and the waste tank interior, as described hereinafter. & H N

Front frame member 20 carriesa'r'ms-ta-en which is mounted the brush sub-assembly represented by the numeral 40. TEiiSEub assembIy )of oscillation of brushjfl may be desir'ed. Either :of'the side plates 4-2; or is provided with a rearward extension 56; here shown as being attached to plate 44, as an engaging member for a treadle e'a-rm .64 which terminatesin atreadle 66. Tr'adle arm 64 is pivoted to iront-framemember' '20 by pi'n 6|-which pivotsin iugfl attached to member 20. ,A -slot 68 is provided- -in-frame member '20 through-which treadle i l-protrudes. frea'clle 66 is provided with a stop 65 which is urgedoutwardly by spring 6-! to engage in one or the other of holes 69-in-a raised portion H on; 'the side of waste tank assembly -I 2 (see Figs. 1 and '9). Ihe front part-of the frame is supported by wheels 10, 1'2pivoted onside plates 42, 44 respectively.

. The entirebrush'assembly 4i) may fpe removed from arms by withdrawing pin- 46, which'is preferably arranged -to be easily removable for that purpose-. r

The lift-outw'asteta'nkassembly 12 comprises airand-liquid intake -snout 89.-,"a--mai;n chamber 82, and an opening 84 into which the lower end of flexible hose 36 -is inserted. Snout 8]) has a front'wall 86' with a lower; edge ;8;'|, and a rear "wall 88, the latter terminatingat its bottom-end Zinsqueegee -90. Snout *89 opens out; rearwardly into main chamber 82, in which is positioned ba'flie mea'ns whichserves twopurposespreventi on of any appreciable s'urg-ingor slopping around of "the liquid in chamber 82,-and -rer novi ng as much as possible of the liquid carried-in; from 1 snout-:80. -,-'I-he formerpurpose is accomplished-by bafiles extending upwardly from the bottom 92- of chainrber, 82;. The lattercpurpos e is accomplishedb'y ,providing tortuous or serpentineipassagways for the airand liquidstream emerging into chamber 82- f'rom snout '80, and in addition suitable settling spaces of largecross-sectional area 'relative 'to {thatof snout so, so that liquid droplets ma 'set'tie out The arrangement shown in my 'copeiidi'iig application Serial No. "8,593' time referred" to .may be employed -fOIthis :Dfiip(S5? merit shown hereinjwhichis an egbofi type grid of generally vertically extending b'afiie's' '94 and 96, bafiles 94 being at right anglesto ba'flies "96, possesses certain advantages th'ereovefr, however. These baffles may fit loosely at t e bottom, and/or be provided "with a i'whble's 98, so that srvesto throw 'olitliquid droplets, and the sev- 1 ieiarsub eha ribers 100 formed by the baflies also "serve assettlih'g"chambers, since their area is "scare in contact with' the floor,

largecompared'with that of either snout or the perforated areas of the baflles.

opening maybe conveniently provided with a-ci-rcumferential lip I02, which serves to prevent creep of any liquid along the walls of waste tank chamber 82 into opening 84. r

Liquid supply 'tank' assembl I4 "comprises a tank 'lfl4,'fillfer opening lflfi andcap W8 therefor, andslid' valve unit I ll]. This latter unit cornprises an opening I [2 in the bottom of 'tank flql, controlled by vawei I amounted in housing Ht and operated b'y jp11Sh-pu1l handle H8. Ports no in housing ns admit liquid fremtank 104 to' opening I I2 wh'envaive 1 I4 is raised-by handle 'I I8, and lowering hi the valve closespor'ts i 29 and 'operring H2. I n

' The opening 2 discharges liquid from {tank I04 into a well l2 2 lo'catedin'th'e upper part of waste tank'lassemblyl2, and the liquid travels from well I22 through *c'ondu'it 124 to discharge openings in, of which there"'ma'y be any con- "venient number, located above brushta.

Tank I04 may'conv'eniently rest on a'gasket 130, and it is held in position by suitable sewnwardly-proj-ecting lugs or flanges I32 which are positioned to be in sliding contact with edges 1 34 or the'cpentop or main chambers? bf 'the'waste tank.

switches m and m are prov ded-on nandie '21. "in: a position convenient for the'bp ator. Theseswitches lead b'y'a'n electric -eord' rrom a plug (not shown) which-can lielugged in to -a source of electric current s'uehas any convenience outlet, in conventionalimanner, e. g; as cusit-binary "va um cleaners. one or these switches I say flan) eentroi-s the iJOWr" -Sllp1ilTy to motor- 94,the-"other (-say"M-2) coiit'rol's the ing liquid; e. "g; a

'jtion Valve 1 t4 is n closed position at :th'e'ti iiie.

a r m4 is then r'e iaeed int" position. -and"the uevie may te naee ea te t i y rirs a sress iig hand'l e' fliifiti-l the o'n t heels n, i2 liftbff'thefioor-and thenwhe'eling bhe aev 'easutpertea swive casters 2t, to the ce-- "sirea neg tion. Theniwith tr'eadie 6 in thefdown position (Fig. 2 "t1iat wiiee1s 1b,; 1 2' and brush r I '"a ndle 11-8 is lifte'clfto open va ve 1 Mand'a-llow-li id to new o'iitof opening I26 onto" the bins and'swi'tch m is closed. 'rhis' eause seieetrie e irent to -now to actuate brush motor"5'0, which via "nkages so,

62 imparts} back and ffo' rth scrubbing ino'ti'on t'o "brush-58. The-deviceismoved bver the siii' 'face to be cleaned, at whateverr'at'eand direetion fmay be desired to effect scrubbing and cleaning. It will be noted (see Fig. 1) that the brush is built out closely to the sides of the device, as well as being near the front, so that close approach of the brush to walls and immovable furniture and equipment is feasible. Also, the low head-room above the brush motor permits the device to run under recesses such as kick-plates. The relative positions of the bottom faces of brush 58 and wheels 10, I2 is such that, when treadle B6 is in down position, the tips of the bristles of the brush are somewhat lower than the bottoms of the wheels. Thus, the weight of the device is distributed over both the wheels and the brush (as well as on casters 26) so that the brush, though readily oscillated by brush motor 50, bears heavily enough on the fioor to provide effective scrubbing action.

When the scrubbing action has been completed, treadle '66 is raised, as by outward pressure of the foot of the operator, thereby raising both the wheels I0, I2 and the brush 53, so that they are removed from contact with the floor.

Thereupon, squeegee 99 is lowered into contact with the floor, and with casters 26 bears the weight of the device. Switch I43 is then closed, causing electric current to flow to motor 34 thereby actuating suction blower 32. The device is then moved over the scrubbed surface to dry the same. On each forward stroke or movement, the liquid on the surface piles up in front of squeegee 90, and is sucked up into snout 80 by the action of suction blower 32.

The area of the opening between edge 81 and the floor is preferably about the same as that of snout 80, to promote effective pick-up of liquid from the floor in front of the squeegee. The cross-sectional area of snout 80 should be about the same as that of opening 84; if much larger, the pick-up of liquid through snout 80 will be less eifective, and if much smaller, there is some tendency for droplets to carry all the way through to suction blower 32.

Although switches corresponding to I40 and I42 could be placed for actuation by the movement of treadle 66 as it is moved to up or down position, there is some advantage in having them in handle 21 as shown. It is desirable for the brush motor to continue in operation for at least a while after the scrubbing operation is completed, so as to shake liquid off the brush 58 and avoid dribbles onto the floor during the drying operation. Hence I prefer to place both switches I40 and I42 in the handle, where the operator can manipulate them at will independently of the operation of treadle 66. In fact, both motor 34 and brush motor 50 may be in operation all the time the device is in use, without any particular disadvantage, since when the squeegee is in elevated position no water is piled up by it and none, or substantially none, is then sucked up by snout 80.

As the air and liquid mixture sucked into snout 80 emerges into chamber 82, its velocity is of course reduced since it is passing into a space of larger cross-sectional area. Some of the liquid accordingly drops out into the bottom of chamber 82. The air and liquid stream then passes through the maze of the baffle grid, whereby the remaining liquid is removed from the stream. Some of this liquid is flung out due to sudden changes in direction in fiow through the grid; the rest is removed by the effect of sudden changes in velocity caused by the stream alternately flowing rapidly through perforations 99 andthen slowly (with consequent settling out of droplets due to reduce-dspeed) through sub-chambers I 00. The air stream, thus freed of droplets of liquid, passes into the rear space of main chamber 82 (designatedby numeral I03), and thence out through opening 84 via flexible hose 36 to suction blower 32. Thus a droplet-free stream of air is discharged from the suction blower, so that the operator of the device is not troubled by a blast of droplet-laden qu The liquid separated'from the air and liquid stream from snout 8|] falls to the bottom of main chamber 82, where it is prevented from surging and slopping by the baflies of the grid, as already described.

When the drying operation has been completed, the main chamber. 82 may be dumped by merely tilting the whole device forward, whereupon the liquid in chamber 82 runs out through snout 80. Chamber 82 may be cleaned by lifting off the liquid supply tank assembly I4, and lifting out the grid of bailies. This grid may, if desired, be made up as a separate unit and slipped into position between flanges I32 of the liquid supply tank assembly I4 with a snug sliding fit, so that it is removed when said assembly is removed (see Figs. 2 and 8)..

The lift-out waste tank assembly I2 may be removed by first disconnecting flexible hose 36 from opening 84 and, if desired, also removing liquid supply tank assembly I4, after which assembly I2 is merely lifted off chassis II].

The device of this invention may of course be used in various ways as will be obvious to those skilled in this art. Thus, it may be used for drying only, in instances where, for example, a surface has had liquid spilled on it or has been .washed or wet down by a hose.

, passage adjacent one end of said chamber, said passage having an intake opening so positioned as to lie immediately adjacent the floor surface and having an outlet opening into said end of said chamber, a squeegee associated with said housing and positioned adjacent the passage intake opening so as to wipe the floor surface and accumulate liquid at said intake openin means defining a suction opening into said chamber spaced a substantial distance from the passage outlet and adapted for connection to a suction-producing device for the drawing of air and entrained liquid through said upward passage and said chamber to said suction opening, and baffle means positioned within said chamber between said passage outlet and said suction opening and comprising a plurality of vertically extending parallel plates and another plurality of vertically extending parallel plates intersecting said first-named plates, said firstnamed plates being perforated and said secondnamed plates being alternately perforated and imperforate to cause the air flowing through said chamber to repeatedly sharply change its direction of flow for precipitation of the entrained liquid therefrom, said intersecting plates providing between themselves liquid-settling spaces of large cross-sectional area compared to that of said passage.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle plates extend vertically from the bottom 

